Pei Zongrui seemed either certain she wouldn't dare cry out, or confident she couldn't do anything to him, as he appeared completely unfazed.
After she spoke, he didn't back down. Instead, he reached out, put his arm around her waist, and with a subtle squeeze, pulled her into his embrace.
Pei Kexin's head bumped against his chin. He pressed his mouth against her ear.
"Come on, feel free to be rude to me."
"Men like feisty women, especially ones as pretty and spirited as you. The ruder you are to me, the more attracted I'll be. Come on, scold me."
Pei Kexin felt a wave of disgust, goosebumps rising all over her. Convinced Pei Zongrui had lost his mind, she gritted her teeth and pinched his leg.
Putting all her strength into it, Pei Zongrui, caught off guard, yelped in pain.
Pei Kexin seized the opportunity and stood up.
The two engineers in front, hearing the cry, turned their heads curiously. Pei Kexin calmly squeezed past Pei Zongrui and offered them an explanation.
"He insisted on closing the window and pinched his finger. Serves him right."
"I'm not sitting with children anymore, it's too much trouble. I'll sit in the front."
With people watching, Pei Zongrui couldn't force her to stay.
He watched her go to the front, clutching his leg, feeling as though the duck he'd almost caught had flown away. He was furious.
He refused to give up.
Once a thought took hold, it was agonizing not to have it within his grasp.
Thinking that they had already come this far, he paused for two seconds, then also got up and walked to the front.
Pei Kexin sat by the window near the door. He went behind her, watching her, staring at her.
His eyes conveyed his message: stop struggling, I'm determined to have you today, dead or alive.
Soon, everyone arrived at the hotel where they were staying, the car stopping at the steps outside the entrance.
As the door opened, Pei Zongrui expected her to be the first one out and had already prepared to feign helping her.
To his surprise, Pei Kexin remained seated.
"You guys go ahead, I need to buy something."
The two engineers bid her farewell and happily walked out. Pei Zongrui, however, remained, looking displeased.
"Where are you going? What are you buying? I'm coming with you."
Pei Kexin didn't look at him, her gaze fixed straight ahead.
"I'm buying something girls use every month. You want to come along?"
"..." With the driver present, Pei Zongrui couldn't press the issue.
Thinking she would have to return to sleep that night anyway, he decided to find her later and stood up.
As he passed Pei Kexin, he stepped one foot out the door and leaned his mouth close to her ear, saying sickeningly,
"When you get back, don't wander too late, or I'll miss you, Auntie."
Pei Kexin desperately wanted to slap him across the face!
Once he was gone, Pei Kexin asked the driver to turn around.
"Driver, please take me to the Wanlong Hotel on the next street."
After checking into a different hotel, and lacking any change of clothes, she went out shopping again.
It had been a long time since she came to Harbin, and this was the first time she had walked the streets outside of work.
The streets in the late afternoon, around five or six o'clock, were pleasant. Pedestrians were as numerous as threads in a tapestry, bustling and vibrant, a kaleidoscope of colors, the liveliest time of day.
Walking alone along the most prosperous street in the city center, she felt a sense of loneliness, having no one to share the beautiful scenery and novelties with.
Fortunately, someone in Nancheng, at the other end of the phone, still remembered her.
In the three-person chat group, Gu Wei, heading home alone after work, was also bored to death.
He sent a sticker and said,
"Treat me to a meal. You two heartless people, if I don't say anything, no one has spoken in this group for days! Where are you all hiding? Treat me to a meal!"
Fu Duoduo replied instantly, sending a beautiful selfie.
"I'm in Chongqing. How about you come over now? I'll treat you to hot pot until you're sick of it."
Gu Wei: "When did you run off there? Who did you go with? What are you doing there? How long are you staying? You didn't even tell me before you left, Fu Duoduo, you've changed! Tell me the truth, did you go to find a man?"
Fu Duoduo: "Do you think I'm like you, with men on my mind all day? I'm here for work!"
"But speaking of which, there are indeed many men in Chongqing, with plenty of handsome young guys everywhere. Come on, do you want to come? We can go meet some handsome guys together."
Gu Wei: "Don't try to lead me astray. I'm devoted, buddy. I don't want anyone but Kexin. Sending love."
Fu Duoduo rolled her eyes: "Stop talking so much nonsense, you're wasting my time. I'm out, I'm out. If you don't come, I'll go by myself. Anyway, I won't let my youth go to waste lying around at home."
Gu Wei sent a sticker: You're so flirtatious.
Fu Duoduo: Hehe.
After a bit of banter, Gu Wei, seeing Fu Duoduo was busy, pinged Pei Kexin, who was silently observing the conversation.
"Don't play dead, come out. Give me an update on your situation."
Pei Kexin sent him a picture of the Harbin street scene at dusk.
"I'm in Harbin, and I can't return for at least three more days. I'm really bored, come find me. I heard the roast whole lamb here is delicious."
Gu Wei wailed: "Three more days to return? You're so heartless. Is this company mine alone? You're always abandoning it and only focusing on that side, leaving me to be both father and mother."
Pei Kexin: "I personally tested ten thousand sets of products this week, my head almost fell off from exhaustion. Don't call me heartless."
"Seriously, Gu Wei, if you're really bored, come keep me company. I really need you these few days."
Fu Duoduo, with her sharp intuition, sensed gossip in her words.
"What do you mean you need him? Don't you need me? What's going on? Did you two suddenly get all mushy behind my back?"
The two of them were not outsiders, and Pei Kexin hid nothing from them. As she had a lot of pent-up feelings with no one to confide in, she sent a few voice messages detailing Pei Zongrui's harassment.
Gu Wei and Fu Duoduo were, as expected, stunned.
Gu Wei: "Is this even human? He knows less than an animal! He's even got designs on his aunt?!"
"Quickly send me the hotel address, I'm coming to protect you right now. The Pei family isn't human, they're a bunch of demons and monsters!"
Fu Duoduo: "Have you told your husband yet? You're still in your honeymoon phase, why didn't you bring him on this business trip? Since you're spending money, isn't it a waste not to make the most of it?"
Pei Kexin: "I'm telling you guys this for comfort, not for you to make trouble, and definitely not to upset me. Don't lecture me."
Gu Wei: "I'm not upsetting you. I'm genuinely preparing to help. Send me the address, I'm leaving now."
Fu Duoduo: "I'm not upsetting you either. Although I can't fly over to protect you immediately, my spirit is with you!"
Pei Kexin felt much better. She sent Gu Wei her real-time location. After a few more casual chats, they ended the conversation, and she entered an underwear store.
As Gu Wei finished his call and was about to book a flight to Harbin, his long-time crush called.
A water pipe in her house had burst, and she was feeling helpless.
After some deliberation, he chose his romantic interest over his friend.
While going to meet his crush, he called Zhan Jingchen.
"Your sugar daddy is being bullied, it's time for you to show your worth!"